On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, I had the privilege of joining the UConn Exhibiters at Connecticut Agriculture Day at the Capitol in Hartford, CT. This was my first time attending this event, and it was eye-opening. There were at least forty-five exhibitor tables, full of people from various sectors of agriculture, all on the main floor of the State Capitol. Each exhibitor represented a unique group of farm operators, producer associations, commercial vendors, non-profits, educational entities, and state/federal agencies that showcased their contributions to CT agriculture and spotlighted their services or offerings.
Some offered information and support while others let you taste their locally grown/sourced amazing food products. Almost everyone was walking around with a pot of beautiful daffodils in their hands, reminding us that spring is here and it’s time to work in the gardens and farms. It was wonderful to see children’s lovely smiles while munching on Connecticut grown apples given out by the Department of Agriculture. Another exhibitor offered delicious soup to the participants, highlighting CT grown ingredients. Livestock folks had a spin wheel that relayed trivia questions to participants attempting to win some fun flavored milk. The diversity of information, delicious food, and engaging displays drew participants to exhibitor tables, making the event quite enjoyable while learning valuable facts about CT agriculture.
In addition to families, gardeners and many others, a group of young energetic Future Farmers of America (FFA) students were busy learning from exhibitors while enjoying the ‘Mascot Madness’ competition. Dr. Wei Ren, Associate Professor from the Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, and I were showcasing Climate Smart Agriculture, which caught many FFA students’ interest.
Students were especially interested to learn how climate change impacts agriculture, food safety, and really, every aspect of our lives. They were amazed to learn how choices for managing crops and soils can have such a huge impact on climate change and environment as well as the sustainability of soil and food production. They were intrigued to find out that their interest in agriculture could potentially make an impact on climate change and resilience of agriculture to climate change. The students told us this was one of the most inspiring events that they participated in. It was fun to talk to the students who are passionate about agriculture. Wei and I were also excited to talk about our research with the bright young minds, and conversed so much that we were getting hoarse by noon.
UConn CAHNR had exhibitor tables from a wide variety of programs, including Extension, IPM, Solid Ground, 4-H, CVMDL, Sustainable Poultry Production, Grown ConNECTed, CT Sea Grant, Urban and Community Forestry, EFNEP/SNAP-ED, Put Local On Your Tray. Along with Dean Chaubey who promoted UConn’s valuable programs and contributions to local agriculture was the Associate Dean of Extension, Dr. Amy Harder.
Visitors just flocked to some tables. I learned a lot from these exhibitors about not only what they do but, also ideas to bring more engaging activities and displays to our table. Wei and I would definitely like to participate in future Ag Days.
The Connecticut Ag Day at the Capitol is an annual event organized by Connecticut Agricultural Information Council (CAIC) and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. It is typically held on the third Wednesday in March, according to CT Department of Ag. It is most certainly worth a day’s visit. It can be a fun family visit for children and their parents to learn and celebrate agriculture in CT, play fun games, and get some treats. You will walk out with a wealth of knowledge, full happy stomach, beautiful flowers, and fun giveaways.
Dr. Haiying Tao is an Assistant Professor and Soil Fertility Specialist in the UConn Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture.
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